Ohio voters switching from Democratic party to GOP

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A newspaper reports that more Ohio voters are switching to the GOP than the Democratic party in a reversal from 2008 as early voting begins for the May primary election.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Democrats switching to the Republican party outnumbered Republicans switching to the Democratic party by about 7-to-1 as of Tuesday in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland. In 2008, the figures favored Democrats 5-to-1.

In Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, about 9 times as many Democrats have switched parties. In Franklin County, which includes Columbus, about six times as may Democrats have switched.

Analysts say reasons may be dissatisfaction with Democrats or that Republicans who switched to vote in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary are returning to the GOP.